Home
I work only on antique, ancient, or fossilized ivory. These ivories are completely legal to buy, sell, and transport between states and countries.
All of my scrimshaw artworks are one-of-a-kind originals, hand engraved using only an X-acto knife. The process starts with polishing the ivory to a high gloss, then engraving an image into the surface. Once the image is complete, the piece is covered with india ink and the surface is gently wiped until the ink is trapped only in the engraved indentations. This is a slow, painstaking process, but the end result is a uniquely beautiful "heirloom quality" artwork that will last for centuries.
WALRUS IVORY ARTIFACTS were fashioned in ancient times by the indigenous people of the arctic regions of Alaska and Siberia. These artifacts are controlled by Alaska state law. Only native Alaskans are permitted to dig for artifacts. This is done in the spring after the ice recedes from beaches where ancient campsites are located. Once these artifacts are sold by a native, they are legal to possess, buy, sell, and transport between states and countries.
An example of an unpolished fossilized walrus Eskimo artifact. This piece was used as an adz.
Some excellent examples of fossil walrus Eskimo artifacts after polishing.
Examples of mammoth ivory before polishing.
Mammoth ivory polished.
THE WOOLLY MAMMOTH HAS BEEN EXTINCT for at least 10,000 years. Commerce in mammoth ivory is completely unrestricted.
Because I work almost entirely on a commission basis, I do not have any finished scrimshaw for sale.
Most of the ivory I work on is provided to me by collectors or scrimshaw galleries. They are the owners of the ivory.
Currently, I have a small number of fossil ivory pieces available for scrimshaw commissions. I will email photos upon request. If I don't have something you like, I can contact a dealer, or put you in touch with a dealer who may have exactly what you want.